Brilliant Ipswich stun Spurs to claim first win of season

Ipswich Town sealed their first Premier League win since 2002 with a 2-1 win victory over Tottenham Hotspur in north London on Sunday.

Sammie Szmodics and Liam Delap were on target for the visitors, who lifted themselves out of the relegation zone with the stunning victory.

Both sides had chances early on, as Brennan Johnson missed from close range before Dominic Solanke had a chance saved, either side of Cameron Burgess clipping the bar with a header.

Shortly after the half-hour mark, Szmodics put Ipswich ahead – the sixth time they have taken the lead in a game this season – with a brilliantly executed overhead kick after Spurs failed to clear Jens-Lys Cajuste’s cross.

Chasing their first win since their return to the top flight, Ipswich doubled their lead when Delap stabbed home on the line following a mix-up between Guglielmo Vicario and Radu Dragusin.

Spurs thought they had found a way back into the game when Solanke turned in from close range just minutes into the second half, but it was ruled out by VAR for a handball.

The hosts got a goal when Rodrigo Bentancur thumped home a header from Pedro Porro’s corner to halve the deficit and give Ange Postecoglou’s side just over 20 minutes to find an equaliser.

But they could not find it as the away side held on for three points, while Spurs slumped to their fifth defeat of the season.

Talking point – Ipswich claim first PL victory since 2002

It has taken them 11 attempts, but Ipswich have finally got over the hump with their first top-flight victory of the season. Not only that, but it takes them out of the relegation zone and up to 17th after overtaking Wolves and Crystal Palace.

Although it took them until November to secure maximum points, they have drawn five and lost five – the same number of defeats as Spurs – so it has not been all bad for the newcomers who can begin their push for survival.

As for Spurs, it was the second time they had handed an opponent their first win of the season after Palace beat them at Selhurst Park at the end of August. Ange Postecoglou’s side are now 10th in the table, 12 points off leaders Liverpool and three adrift of fourth-place Brighton.

Player of the Match – Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town)

The Irishman was a handful for Spurs to deal with on Sunday and he scored the standout goal of the tie with his excellent acrobatic effort in the first half.

And his third goal of the Premier League season made all the difference in the end, as it gave Ipswich the momentum to go and grab a second, while Spurs could not claw themselves back into the contest.

Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric deserves a mention for his performance between the sticks. He made five saves to deny the likes of Son Heung-min and Solanke.

Szmodics

Image credit: Eurosport

Player ratings:

Tottenham: Vicario 6, Porro 7, Romero 6, Dragusin 5, Udogie 7, Sarr 7, Bentancur 7, Kulusevski 5, Johnson 6, Solanke 6, Son 7

Subs: Bissouma N/A, Maddison N/A, Werner 6

Ipswich: Muric 8, Tuanzebe 7, Johnson 6, O’Shea 7, Burgess 7, Davis 7, Cajuste 7, Morsy 7, Hutchinson 7, Szmodics 8, Delap 8

Subs: Clarke 6, Luongo N/A, Hirst 6

Match highlights

4’ – HOW HAS THAT NOT GONE IN?! Heung-Min Son whips in an inviting cross from the left and Brennan Johnson looks to steer it past Arijanet Muric with a soft touch, but his effort trickles wide of the post. It looked destined to nestle in the bottom left corner! A fast start in North London.

9’ – OFF THE BAR! The away side work their way into the box and get a cross in from the left which Dragusin crucially intercepts before Udogie turns the following cross away for a corner. Ipswich send in a deep cross towards the back post, which Cameron Burgess heads back across goal, only to be denied by the crossbar! The closest we’ve come so far.

20’ – SOLANKE’S EFFORT BEATEN AWAY! That’s the first involvement from Spurs’ record signing. The striker picks the ball up on the edge of the box, shifts to the right and sends a low, hard effort towards goal but Muric diverts it behind for a corner, which doesn’t come to anything.

31’ – GOAL!!! – TOTTENHAM 0-1 IPSWICH (SZMODICS): And just like that, Ipswich are ahead with a brilliant goal from Szmodics! Jens-Lys Cajuste whips in a cross from the right which Romero heads high into the air, only for Szmodics to send the ball into the bottom right corner with a brilliant overhead kick!

43’ – GOAL!!! – TOTTENHAM 0-2 IPSWICH (DELAP): Would you believe it, Ipswich double their lead in the blink of an eye! Son’s cross is cleared down one end, but Ipswich race down the other, Szmodics pulls a cross back and after a mix-up between Vicario and Dragusin, Liam Delap capitalises to poke home on the line! A long way back for Spurs now…

49’ – GOAL!!! – TOTTENHAM 1-2 IPSWICH (SOLANKE): There’s a lot going in on the box following the corner… but Solanke has stabbed in a goal from close range. VAR are having a look at a possible handball.

50’ – NO GOAL! It’s pretty conclusive that the ball does come off Solanke’s hand after his shot and the goal is ruled out. And breathe, Ipswich fans…

69’ – GOAL!!! – TOTTENHAM 1-2 IPSWICH (BENTANCUR): Spurs get one back! Bentancur heads home from Porro’s cross to halve the deficit. This is set up for an electric finish.

90’+6 – HUGE CHANCE FOR SOLANKE! He picks up a loose ball in the box and is one-on-one, albeit at a tight angle, but fires his shot straight at Muric! What a huge save that could turn out to be.

Key stat

Spurs have fallen 2-0 down at home to a promoted side in the Premier League for the first time since April 2003, versus Kevin Keegan’s Manchester City. TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League across the 2024/25 season. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.